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This area of the law has undergone major changes in the last two decades, and the pace of that change has quickened in the last five years alone. Spousal support rules and agreements are likely to continue undergoing significant reform over the coming years as circumstances change within the family unit and the economy. Spousal support applies not just to individuals who are legally married, but it can also apply to common law spouses. Courts take many factors into account when determining whether spousal support (also know as alimony) is applicable, how much spousal support may be payable, and for how long it should be paid. The BasicsSpousal support is commonly determined based on a monthly payment amount (“periodic”). This type of periodic support is tax deductible to the payor if there is a written agreement or court order mandating it, and periodic support must be included in the recipient’s income. However, spousal support also can be paid in one or more lump sums, which are neither deductible to the payor nor do they need to be included in the recipient’s income (the amounts of such lump sum payments usually consider these tax consequences).If the spouses have children, child support will normally take priority in payment over any order for spousal support. In determining spousal support, the court usually does not consider the conduct or past conduct of the spouses. Few areas of family law have the potential for as much conflict as spousal support. The law of spousal support is briefly reviewed below, together with the challenges faced by each spouse. If you have any questions about your obligations or rights, contact a Zeidman family lawyer for advice. Definition of SpouseOnly a legally married individual can apply for spousal support under the Divorce Act (“DA”). However, the Family Law Act (“FLA”) enables common law spouses to apply for spousal support too. Section 1(1) of the FLA defines a spouse as either of two people who are married to each other (including a same sex marriage). However, for the purpose of support obligations, section 29 of the FLA expands the definition of spouse to include either of two people who are not married but:
If you fit into one of the categories of a spouse under the FLA, you may be eligible to receive spousal support or you may be responsible for paying spousal support. Factors Considered in Spousal SupportSection 33(8) of the Family Law Act (“FLA”) states that an order for spousal support should:
Section 33(9) of the FLA requires judges to consider all the circumstances of the parties in determining the amount and duration, if any, of spousal support. Section 33(9) goes on to list various factors to consider:
Spousal Support Advisory GuidelinesIn 2005, the Justice Department of Canada released a draft proposal entitled the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (“SSAG”) to help deal with “one of the most difficult areas in current practice” of family law. The SSAG are not legislated or mandatory, but the courts now have a tool that most judges use at their discretion in determining the reasonableness of the amount of spousal support calculated under the law (i.e. legislation). To oversimplify, the SSAG use the spouse’s incomes and other relevant information (such as length of the spousal relationship, age of the spouses, the child custody arrangements, and the ages of the children) to arrive at a range from low to high of how much monthly spousal support should be paid. In many cases, if the amount of spousal support arrived at under the legislation is within this range, it will be considered reasonable and be applied. However, the SSAG are not applicable in each situation, and thus caution must be used in referencing them. Contact a Zeidman family lawyer to determine the applicability of the SSAG to your situation. Income IssuesThe income levels of each spouse are central to the determination of spousal support. When a payor is a salaried employee, this determination can be simple. However, there are many situations that arise where the actual income of the payor is in question: Income Fluctuations. Court’s may review a payor’s income over the last three years to consider any patterns of income, any fluctuations of income, or any non-recurring amounts; Private Corporations. If your spouse is a shareholder, director or officer of a corporation, the court may consider income fluctuations and decide your spouse’s income includes all or party of the pretax income of the corporation. Imputing Income. The court may impute income to a spouse for support purposes when it considers it appropriate. These may include situations where:
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